Navigating Immersion: Usability Study of a Virtual Reality Application Designed for Older Adults with Dementia and Their Caregivers.

A growing number of therapeutic virtual reality (VR) applications are targeted at older adults, but few are evidence-based and designed together with end-users, thus limiting the adoption of this potentially game-changing technology. There is also little research exploring VR applications developed for dyadic use between older adults and their caregivers, who are commonly a part of the safe and optimal experience. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial usability of an application designed to make accessing immersive VR easier for older adults with dementia and their caregiver(s). This was a non-randomized, prospective mixed-methods think-aloud study that consisted of a two hour usability session with seven participant dyads (one person living with dementia and their caregiver). Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted on demographic quantitative data, and three researchers conducted thematic analysis on observation notes as well as the participants' qualitative responses. Themes identified included headset comfort and safety, usability and navigation, quality (spanning over sub-themes of video, audio, and connectivity), and content. Our main findings highlighted success in delivering the platform's main function as its immersive experience and ability to accommodate socialization and bonding between older adults and caregivers received positive reception from participants. Additionally, there was a need to improve the application's audio quality, as well as streamline its navigation and enlarge interface elements for easier use. These findings provide a guide for development of future VR interventions targeted toward older adults and their caregivers, of which there is currently a lack of in the commercial market and in evidence-based research, despite their demonstrated potential.